Independent analysis of the IP communications sector - VoIP, Mobile Broadband, IPTV, Unified Communications, Contact Center, Telepresence/Video, Collaboration, WebRTC, Social Media, etc. Plus, my thoughts on all the other things I enjoy during the rest of the day like the Red Sox and great music. And more recently, Smart Grid too!

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Telus Changes Tune on Porn

Well, that didn't last long. Telus's announcement two weeks ago to offer adult content to mobile subscribers was a first in North America.

And now it could be a last. This afternoon they've reversed course, after realizing that the public backlash was too strong to resist. Last week I commented how the pushback was just beginning, and it's only accelerated from there. For more flavor on this, just read the comments posted to the article - there were 70 last I checked.

Morality issues aside, there are just so many issues and problems here, and you really have to wonder why? Of course porn is hugely lucrative, but everything comes with a price, and in this case that means alienating all kinds of people. The opposition from the Roman Catholic Church may well have been the backbreaker, and maybe old fashioned guilt ended up carrying the day here. Anybody know if Darren Entwistle is Catholic? :-)

From a PR perspective, it sure is interesting to watch how Telus is now putting a positive spin on this after taking the polar opposite position barely two weeks ago.

Well, with the much anticipated arrival here next month of WNP - Wireless Number Portability - this brings Telus back to the pack in terms of reasons for subscribers to stay - or go. As I mentioned initially, you'd think that Virgin Mobile would be the ones to take up the mantle for adult content, and who knows, maybe they will.

WNP could open up our wireless market in a big way, especially if Ottawa decides to ease foreign ownership restrictions. That would open the way for the much hoped-for "fourth" carrier to make our market more competitive. So many variables, so many scenarios.

Search My Blog

Search This Blog

Follow my blog by Email

Subscribe

About Me

Jon Arnold is Principal of J Arnold & Associates, an independent telecom analyst and marketing strategy consultancy. The consultancy’s primary focus is on improving mind share and market share with thought leadership, market research and go-to-market planning. Core expertise is IP-based communications and disruptive technologies, such as VoIP, mobile broadband, telepresence/video, unified communications, collaboration, contact centers, session border controllers, social media and Web-based applications.
JAA also works with companies for funding, M&A, strategic partnerships, and monetizing patents and intellectual property.Jon serves as an Advisor to several startups, and is a member of the CTCA.